For the first time in Malzahn's career as a college coach, his team returns its starting quarterback, a dual-threat weapon who threw for 1,976 yards, rushed for 1,068 yards and directed four fourth-quarter comebacks.

Nick Marshall's poise in tight games set the tone for Auburn's run this season, and he becomes the team's unquestioned leader next season, no longer a junior college transfer trying to find his way.

"He's a winner," Lashlee said. "There's not anybody else I'd want playing quarterback for us other than No. 14. I'm glad we've got him back for another year."

Ellis Johnson has a tougher task, trying to replace a group of senior defenders that includes Dee Ford, Chris Davis, Nosa Eguae, Jake Holland, Ryan Smith and Ryan White, among others.

Beyond the on-field production, that group set the tone for a team that desperately wanted to prove that 2012 was an aberration.

"I think they laid a foundation that we're going to build this program on, and it's a great foundation," defensive line coach Rodney Garner said. "They were the ones that started the Gus Malzahn era, and they set a standard that the other guys have to follow. They set the bar high."

But there is plenty of talent coming back, led by the brains of the secondary, Jermaine Whitehead and a returning Josh Holsey, starting cornerback Jonathon Mincy, emerging linebackers Cassanova McKinzy and Kris Frost and a trio of freshmen defensive linemen -- Carl Lawson, Elijah Daniel and Montravius Adams -- who flashed big-time potential while teaming with returning veterans Gabe Wright and LaDarius Owens.

Beyond the personnel, though, Auburn's defense will get to stick with the same defensive coordinator for the first time in three years. The return of Malzahn was an advantage for a group of offensive players recruited to play in his system; Auburn's defensive players had to reinvent the wheel for the third straight season.

The national championship game showed how far the Tigers' defenders can come with time to learn from its experienced coaching staff.

"I think it's bright," Johnson said. "Hopefully, another year in our system, some things will get more consistent. We lose some key guys. We lose Dee Ford, Chris Davis, some other key seniors. ... We'll still have some huge holes to fill next year, but I do think another year in the system, we'll play more consistently."

Beyond the personnel, though, this is a different Auburn program that Malzahn's coaching staff arrived to find last January.

Back then, the team was a hurting, angry group, a team that the coaches had to rebuild mentally and emotionally as much as physically. For months, Malzahn talked about getting Auburn's edge back.

Auburn wide receiver Melvin Ray (82) celebrates with Auburn wide receiver Trovon Reed (1) after a touchdown in the 2nd quarter. Auburn takes on Florida State in the 2014 BCS National Championship game held in Pasadena, California at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium Monday January 6, 2013. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

Now, the Tigers head into the offseason knowing that they can play with college football's best.

"It gives us more confidence, to know that we can get here with the team that we've got," Marshall said. "We're going to keep fighting hard to get back to this point."

Malzahn's New Day shone brighter than anybody -- even the players and coaches themselves -- ever expected, making good on his now-famous promise to engineer the biggest turnaround in college football history.

Now, Malzahn has already started the drumbeat for a new slogan.

Auburn wants to get back to college football's biggest stage.

"To me, right now," Whitehead said in the locker room after the loss to Florida State. "I think God has put us in a position to do something special."